History - Tuapeka Transport

Tuapeka Transport Limited was formed in 1979 when the two partners Nicol Kane and Gordon Soper purchased Somervilles Transport in Lawrence. The business started operating under the new name on 1 October 1979. Nicol had been involved in the transport industry since leaving school at the age of 15. He worked previously for South Otago Transport Limited in Balclutha as a driver and then as their Depot Manager at Waitahuna until 1977. The next two years were spent at Refrigerated Freight Lines (RFL) in Dunedin. First as a driver and then as the Dunedin Branch Manager until the purchase of Tuapeka Transport.

Gordon had previously worked in the former Otago Savings Bank, Balclutha Branch. Then in the South Otago Transport Office in Balclutha before moving to Lawrence. He was working as a driver for Somervilles Transport prior to the purchase of the business.

Tuapeka Transport's first Mack was built in 1980 and since then they have added to the fleet once or twice a year to build up an impressive line up of predominately Mack trucks. A new office was built across the road from the yard in the early eighties. 1999 saw the addition of a large drive through workshop with a full length pit for easier vehicle servicing.

The company structure was changed in June 2000 with Gordon leaving the partnership.

In 2003 the company was once again restructured with the sale to Dynes Group Ltd.